December Read

Yes, you actually read that right. I was able to finish up a book in the month of December. I am still unsure of a blogging schedule for the new year, but I am thinking 2 posts a week at most. I just don’t have a ton of time to dedicate to it and I’m at the point that I also want to time to live my life. My blog has come a long way, since I first started it five years ago now. Might even be going on 6. The years just kinda blur together. But 2019 holds a big year of changes for me. I’m gonna be moving with March being the earliest, but I start really apartment hunting at the end of Jan/Feb. I’ll have saved enough by then. I’m gonna be on my own for the first time ever with my son, which is both thrilling and terrifying. I am so ready and excited though! I’m gonna start dating again and putting myself out there. I’m gonna start building a life for myself and my son. I can be myself whoever that is, again. So, I really can’t wait for 2019.

Runaway by Meg Cabot

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

It was a solid end to the series, but I’m still a bit disappointed by it. The first book was great. The second book was still good, but not amazing. The third is just kinda meh to me. This trilogy could have just been a book and a sequel. Half the book was just sitting, hanging around her ex boyfriend’s house being a “hostage”. It could have been so much better. It was a bit of a letdown. I “read” this on audible and I have to say that the narrator was also pretty terrible. I am happy to finally close the door to this series. Maybe, I am just too old for YA books now that I am in my mid to late twenties with a child of my own. I still thought the book was okay, but nothing like the first one. I wish that I would have finished this in my younger years rather than getting around to it now. I probably would have enjoyed it more.
View all my reviews

Well, that is the book that I managed to finish reading in December. I think I can get through one or more books in January. I am going to start walking for my hour of lunch. It’s part of a New Years Resolution to get back to the best version of myself. I always felt the best about myself when I was exercising and keeping my body fit. I also loved myself with really long hair, so I’m also focused on growing it out and not bleaching it anymore. I’m only allowing myself to have highlights in the future. I think I’m finally at peace with my dark blonde hair. Plus, with highlights, I can still add fun colors now and again.

With Love,

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5 OUT: Product Reviews

So, I have uncovered more old reviews that I have written and never reviewed on my blog. I thought that I would share another 5 of these today. I am happy to see that my drafts on my blog are getting smaller in numbers. I mean, I always a few in there so as to not forget to write about them like my Monthly Reads, Movies, EI, ABA, Semester, and Project 200 pan posts. I always have a draft with the titles in there for those. Other than that, I am free to write whatever posts that I would like. It is a great feeling. I used to have a ton of posts that I planned in there. I have greater freedom now to do what I feel like doing and not feel guilty about it. I still plan on doing some cooking/baking posts now that I have a camera! I am looking forward to those posts!

New England Coffee in Blueberry Cobbler

This was just terrible. I usually enjoy coffee from this brand, but this flavor tasted terrible. Not even coffee creamer could redeem it. I love trying new flavored coffees and would buy from this brand again, just not this flavor. I’m very picky when it comes to my flavored coffees. It has to be just right and hit all the right notes. This coffee just tasted burnt to me, even though it was never burnt once or left out too long. I brew by the cup, so no chance of that happening. There was definitely no “juicy, berry flavor” like they claim. This did not taste like fruit at all. I figured it would taste good like fruit and chocolate but no.

Yankee Candle Tropical Island Breeze

The candle scent was so good that I burned through two of these that I bought at Marshall’s. It is sweet and light and perfect for those muggy summer nights. It smells like summer. These are huge candles and I burned through them so fast, because the scent was always there but never overwhelming. The candle itself burns clean and there is very little wax left in the jar. I would repurchase this if I saw it at Marshall’s again and I am going to be keeping an eye out for more Yankee Candles at my local store. $13 is such a steal!

Gerber Sweet Potato Puffs

Dean really enjoyed these puff snacks, but he had to be in the mood for them. They are kind of bland, so I am going to see if there is any healthy adult cereal that he can try with more flavor to it. I would purchase these again, but he is over them. He loves strong flavors.

MJCARE Snail Sheet Mask

I was really afraid of trying this mask, but I had nothing to fear. It smells light and perfumey. I didn’t notice anything but more moisturized skin and a more plump appearance. I find that all sheet masks do the same thing, but I love the experience when I have the time for it. MJCARE masks are also really basic and a dollar a mask. I’ve tried Tony Moly masks and I feel like they only perform a little bit better, giving me a little more glow or a bit clearer pores. I will repurchase on my next Amazon order and I don’t buy very often from them.

Avon Advance Techniques Keep Clear Anti-Dandruff Treatment

Anytime I had a bit of dandruff, this leave in scalp treatment did the trick. I can no longer find this on Avon’s website. I’ve had this for a very long time. I no longer shop Avon, because they are not cruelty free and that’s a big thing that I am trying to stick by now when it comes to beauty products. Avon is also a big pyramid scheme but that is a story for another time.

There you have it. 5 more reviews of products that are no longer part of my collection (besides the other MJCARE sheet masks). What have you used up lately? I still got a ton of reviews that I need to write and share on my blog. I am very backed up. Doing this 200 pan, I am using up stuff faster than I can review it and with school, I don’t even try anymore. I need to start writing these at least twice a month. I know everyone says that they are busy, but I mean, I really am. I’m not sitting here watching Netflix. I am blogging and getting my papers edited to upload for school that’s due today. Speaking of which, I should probably get those done now before I start another procrastinating blog post.

With Love,

September Reads

Another month has passed and even though I have been exercising, I haven’t listened to my audiobook. I was too busy catching up on Youtube and I have this tendency if I’m near the end of something, I won’t finish it, so I won’t be done with it. It is a really bad habit and I am trying to get out of it. I will for sure be done with the last Airhead book this month for sure. No more putting it off. I’m not finding it that great anyway. I wanted to share some older reviews that I’m not sure if I have shared on this blog before. If so, it has been a really long time and I thought you guys might enjoy it on the months that I have no books to review. It is kinda like revisiting old favorites or hate its. Let me know if you like this or not. I am going through my Goodreads and sorting by oldest reviews first. I think this will be a lot of fun! Oh, btw, I have read 429 books since I started counting in February 2009. Apparently, there are a number of books that I never put the date that I read them on. We shall go through them first.

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book so much with all of its plot twists and drama.

City Girl by Lori Wick

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Best book in the series

Pregnancy: For The First Time Moms, What They Don’t Tell You by Darell Spice

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Not very helpful if you know the basics.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So SHOCKING!!

A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It was the best book about Royalty that I have ever read.

I also apparently barely wrote about the books that I didn’t bother putting a read date for. It is a good sampling to see what kinds of books that I like and enjoy for better recommendations. I really loved The Luxe series and I am so sad that I read all of them. They were my guilty pleasure books in high school. I really love anything that has to do with ages of luxury like the Victorian age or the roaring 20s. I just love all that glitz and glamour. I think I was born into the wrong time era. I would have loved to live during that time and been courted.

With Love,

July Reading

Runaway (Airhead, #3)
by Meg Cabot

I actually haven’t read any books this month. For those of you who may be unaware, I have started full time online college in July and I have been so busy with that it doesn’t leave a lot of free time to myself. I thought that I would share instead the book that I am currently reading on audible and my thoughts on it at this time. I have been enjoying listening to an audio book while walking on my manual treadmill. I downloaded the Audible app to my phone (which apparently my SOS will no longer be updated, so I need to buy a new phone) and I can hit on the app to listen to where I left off the last time I was exercising.

After combing through my to read shelf on goodreads, I remembered that I hadn’t finished reading this Meg Cabot series yet. I also downloaded two more books, before putting my Audible subscription on a 90 day hold. It is already August and I am still working on my first book. I knew that the other two were going to take me some time to read as well. I am halfway through this book and it is good. Not as good as when I was reading it in my teens, but decent. The narrator is SO annoying though. Her voice irks me and it is nothing like I imaged Em to sound like. Where is the NY accent?! Why is she southern?! Makes zero sense. I’m hoping to finish this by the end of August, so I can give you guys a proper review. I do highly recommend Audible though. I got two free books through my Amazon account. Most books are worth more than the 14.99, so it is well worth it.

With Love,

 

Flawless

Tresemme Flawless Curls Curl Moisturizing Shampoo

This size took forever to use up and I was sick of it by the time that I finally finished it up. I don’t fell like it really did anything for my hair and I will never buy a bottle this big again. I think I might be over this brand. I’ve never really been impressed by their products and I think I’ve only liked the hair spray. I love the scent of Tresemme, but I think I need a break from this brand. I will not repurchase and the only thing that I recommend from them is the hairspray. I do not recommend this shampoo.

With Love,

❤ Selena Hannah ❤

Triple Action Drops

For Halls Triple Soothing Action Drops in Cherry

I’m not a huge fan of the cherry flavor, but these do their job well when you have a cold. I haven’t had a cold all last year as far as I can remember and I haven’t been sick so far this year. I buy this bag for at work for when and if I have a cold, it would be a better day with them. I went through this bag, because people around me got sick and I gave it out. I also get the random sore throat and these are good for that. Now, I have the Halls specifically for that that tastes better. I have already repurchased Halls and I will continue to purchase it in the future. Halls is the only brand I buy for this type of thing, unless it is for strep throat, I will buy the Sucrets or an off brand similar to it.

With Love,

❤ Selena Hannah ❤

Sunscreen

For Nia 24 SPF 30 Lotion

I really enjoyed using this sample of sunscreen for the face. It didn’t break me out and I felt like it really moisturized my skin. I used it as my moisturizer and sunscreen in one. It was a great two-in-one product. I think I will try fluid sunscreen next or a serum. Traditional sunscreen doesn’t really work with my skin, tends to make me greasy, and have breakouts. It did not have a sunscreen scent, but it had an unpleasant scent. I would have preferred the scent of sunscreen over this one. This has SPF 30, but you really only need SPF 15 to protect your skin. I’m happy with SPF 30 personally, but more like 50 to 100 for my son’s new, fair skin. I want him to be as protected as possible. I even used sunscreen on him as a baby before I knew that you aren’t supposed to before six months old. This is also really expensive sunscreen.

With Love ❤

Nestle Hot Chocolate

For Nestle Mini Marshmallows Hot Chocolate

I really enjoyed this hot chocolate and I still have another box of it as well. It is the best tasting hot chocolate and it doesn’t have a weird artificial sweetener aftertaste. The marshmallows dissolve after a few seconds, so there is no real benefit of having them in there really. I will repurchase this again and over and over. That is how good this hot chocolate is. There isn’t anything more I can say about it, except it’s the best I’ve found at the supermarket.

With Love ❤

Selena Hannah

Reviv Serums HA7X Multi-Molecular Hydrator Serum

I have teamed up with Reviv Serums, again. This time I am testing out a new hydrating serum. The serum is a $89 product, but  you get TWO whole ounces, which is more than you get from most high end brands where you would pay this price or close to it for only one ounce. I already think it is a deal at 44.5 dollars an ounce.

The serum contains 7 types of hyaluronic acid and Givaudan(R) Active Beauty, which is a recent 2016 Gold Award winner. This allows the serum to deliver hydration, protection, plumping, smoothing, rejuvenation, and recovery from the subcutaneous levels. HA7X supports your skin’s own ability to replenish hydration, tighten the skin, and plumping. It also helps to protect against environmental stressors. This is comparable to HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator® by SkinMedica® / Allergan® and yet with these new actives, HA7X is about half the price as SkinMedica’s version.

I took before, during, and after photos during my two week test trial. I’m not sure how convincing they will be though. The serum really hydrated my skin and made it feel and look plumper. I also use this when my hands get really dry for an added boost of moisture. It also makes your skin baby soft.

• GIVEAWAY: Five lucky winners will each receive a full-sized package of new HA7X Serum, an $89 product. Entrants are limited to readers and followers who are located in the United States or Canada (except Quebec).

Click HERE to enter!

Here’s a short video:

With Love ❤

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A Lush Bubble Bath

For Lush The Comforter Bubble Bar

Let me start off by saying that it smells like candy floss and that I easily got eight bubble baths out of the bar. I just love the way it smells. I loved sitting in a pink tub and my skin was left so soft and moisturized. I always got so many bubbles that lasted way past the time, when the bath water would get cold. I would repurchase and I highly recommend this bubble bar for its value as well as its scent. If I could try everything from Lush, I would. This bubble bar lasted me two years without going bad or off. I think Lush products last longer than their expiration dates. I still have some Christmas stuff from the year before and last year.

With Love ❤